ROLAND GARROS 2012: WOZNIAK BEATS EL TABAKH TO REACH THE SECOND ROUND IN PARIS, RAONIC WON OPENER

PARIS — Canadian Milos Raonic has already improved on last year's performance at the French Open.
Raonic powered past Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, on Monday to reach the second round of the tournament.
The 19th-seed from Thornhill, Ont., opened with a win on another sunny day at Roland Garros after losing in the first round a year ago to German Michael Berrer.
"It was good to finally win my first match here," said Raonic. "It was good to play a guy like him, who doesn't give you much. I had to go and win the match."
Raonic will next face American qualifier Jesse Levine, who beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 7-5, 6-2, 6-4.
"I need to keep doing the right things and I need to work on my serving a bit," said Raonic. "I'll have to go out and play aggressive against him."
The Canadian dominated from the start, breaking his Spanish opponent five times with 12 aces.
Raonic ended with 58 winners against just 10 for Ramirez Hidalgo.
"I put pressure on him and was able to depend on my serve," said Raonic, ranked 22nd on the ATP. "I feel in control as long as I can dictate. I get nervous before all of my matches and I didn't know what to expect from him.
"Once I got into my game I relaxed and was able to play within myself."
Earlier, fellow Canadian Frank Dancevic exited the tournament after less than 30 minutes on the court, retiring due to a back issue.
The Niagara Falls, Ont., native was down 4-0 to Martin Klizan of Slovakia when he pulled out of the first-round match.
Dancevic said he was afraid to risk aggravating a back injury he suffered last month in Florida.
"I was petrified out there, I didn't know what would happen. I started feeling twinges even during the warm-up and it only got worse during the match," said Dancevic. "I didn't want to mess up my whole summer, it was just not worth it for me."
The 28-year-old took treatment after the third game but knew he could not go on.
"I wasn't able to play at 100 per cent, I was not in it at all," he said. "I played careful, I was scared to go for anything, I just knew there was no way I could go on."
The Canadian is hoping to continue healing and could be a long shot entry into Wimbledon. If not, then he will plan to be ready for the Newport grass event in the U.S. which begins July 9.
"I've entered Wimbledon qualifying just in case I'm feeling really great," he said. "I was playing so well in the spring and then I got this injury, for five days I lay on the floor with my legs on a bed, I was immobile. I only started training last week.
"But I'm still hoping to come back and play well," said the 120th-ranked Dancevic. "I would like to crack the top 100."

Many moons ago, when being a tennis pro competing in the biggest tournaments in the game was just a dream, Canadians Heidi el Tabakh and Aleksandra Wozniak traveled the junior circuit together with their mothers.
They hadn’t seen each other in a long time. And they hadn’t met on the tennis court since both were teenagers, at a small tournament in Hamilton, Ont., in 2005 when el Tabakh led 4-1 in the first set, but had to retire due to injury.
Their reunion took place on Court 17 at the French Open Sunday, a rare Grand Slam meeting between two Canadian players.
And after el Tabakh got off to a lightning-quick start, the more experienced Wozniak prevailed 7-5, 6-2 and advanced to the second round, where she’ll play the winner between No. 31 seed Zheng Jie of China and Alizé Cornet of France.
“It wasn’t fun. I didn’t like it,” said Wozniak of playing someone with whom she has a long history.

“She hit a good ball – very heavy and flat. She went for her shots and I was playing just too short, before I adjusted my game a little bit,” she added. “I was trying to move her around more and I think she struggled with that, when I was placing the balls on the targets with more precision.
“And then, it totally changed. In the second set, it was a completely different match.”

Wozniak won just two total points in her first two service games as el Tabakh sprinted out to a 3-0 lead. The 25-year-old resident of Tampa, Fla. led 5-4, and 40-love on her serve, but couldn’t close it out; Wozniak won the next three games to take the first set, and El Tabakh got a little discouraged.

“She ripped a few, and I think I made a mistake or two, and just like that it was level at 5-5,” she said. “I think after that she let loose and picked up her game a little, and I was a little tentative. And after that I think I started going for shots too soon.
“She hit a pretty good ball and she hit a ton of balls that were close to the line, an inch in or right on the line. It was tough to keep my ball deep when she attached first,” el Tabakh added. “She returned well, she has a big backhand and nice strokes. I thought it would be a good matchup, and it really was. It was pretty close in the first set.”

El Tabakh began the season out of the top 300 and worked hard on the minor-league circuit in the U.S. to get her ranking to the point where she could be eligible for the qualifying.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t even think I was going to make Roland Garros qualies. And so this is just all a bonus for me,” she said.
A four-month break last year – as much physical and mental – allowed a chronic quad injury to heal. It also allowed el Tabakh’s bruised mind to heal.

“It’s tough when you travel by yourself, and you’re injured and you’re trying to play through it and you’re not getting the results. It gets frustrating and after an entire year, it’s just mentally draining,” she said. “The decision for me to take time off was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever taken. I could have easily kept playing. But mentally I was fresh and I was hungry again, and of course I gave my body a chance to heal because, really, when do we get a chance to take a month off?  And I took three or four off. I think that definitely helped.”

The bonus for Wozniak is of an entirely different nature.
Had she lost Sunday, her hopes to compete in the Summer Olympics in London in July would have been all but dashed.
The rankings to determine the top 56 players who will make it will be the ones issued at the conclusion of the French Open. And Wozniak, currently ranked No. 57, must defend the 160 ranking points she earned a year ago – 60 for getting through the qualifying, another 100 for getting to the second round of the main draw.
Wozniak was straight into the main draw this year, and so did not earn any qualifying points. To match those 160 points, she would need to win her second-round match.
“It’s a challenging week,” she said.  “Those things come to your mind for sure. And we girls, we’re emotional, always thinking too much. We analyze everything when we come into a match.
“I will try to focus. No distractions.”

Dubois and Pospisil lose their opening matches
Montreal, May 27, 2012 – Main draw play got underway on Sunday at Roland-Garros and four Canadians were in action. Stéphanie Dubois (Laval, QC), Heidi El Tabakh (Toronto, ON), Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC) and Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, QC) took to the courts to try and book their place in the second round at the second Grand Slam event of the tennis season.
After winning three matches to qualify for the main draw, El Tabakh was drawn to play her compatriot Wozniak in the opening round. El Tabakh got off to a strong start, holding a 4-1 lead and had three set points serving at 5-4, 40-0, but Wozniak held her ground to win the match 7-5, 6-2. The 24-year-old Canadian advances to the second round of the French Open for the fifith consecutive year. She will next take on the winner of the first round encounter between Alizé Cornet of France and the tournament’s no. 31 seed Jie Zheng.  
Dubois and Pospisil fall
Dubois was playing in the Roland-Garros main draw for the third time and was looking for her first win as she took on world no. 55 Shahar Peer, but came up short falling 6-2, 6-2. Meanwhile, Pospisil lost a four set match to France’s  Édouard Roger-Vasselin 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) and Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON) will make their 2012 French Open debuts on Monday. Raonic, seeded no. 19, will meet Spaniard Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo and Dancevic will go up against  Martin Klizan of Slovakia.
About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association responsible for leading the growth, promotion and showcasing of tennis in Canada. Tennis Canada owns and operates two of the premier events on the ATP and WTA Tours; Rogers Cup presented by National Bank men’s and women’s events that rotate annually between Rexall Centre in Toronto and Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. In addition, Tennis Canada owns and operates seven professional ITF sanctioned events and financially supports nine other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates junior national training centres/programs at the Centre of Excellence in Toronto, Uniprix Stadium in Montreal and the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our Web site at: http://tenniscanada.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=d329ef9f1d1bca85c44b72a8f&id=cb20a0a01e&e=3a4a38a850.

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Media Contacts:
Montreal
Louis-Philippe Dorais                                         Valérie Tétreault
Director, Communications and Marketing             Coordinator, Communications
514-273-1515, ext. 232                                   514-273-1515, ext. 259
lpdorais@tenniscanada.com                               vtetreault@tenniscanada.com
Toronto
Sarah Grossman                                               Nicole Watts
Manager, Communications and Media Relations     Coordinator, Communications
416-650-7922                                                 416-655-9777 x4092
sgrossman@tenniscanada.com                           nwatts@tenniscanada.com

  

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
WOZNIAK BAT EL TABAKH ET ACCÈDE AU DEUXIÈME TOUR À PARIS
Pospisil et Dubois s’inclinent au tour initial
Montréal, le 27 mai 2012 – C’est aujourd’hui que le tournoi de Roland-Garros se mettait en branle et quatre Canadiens étaient en action. En effet, Stéphanie Dubois (Laval, QC), Heidi El Tabakh (Toronto, ON), Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC) et Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, QC) tentaient tous de se tailler une place pour le deuxième tour de la deuxième épreuve du Grand Chelem de la saison. 
Le tirage avait voulu qu’El Tabakh, qui avait mérité sa place au tableau principal en remportant ses trois matchs de qualification, et que Wozniak s’affrontent dès le premier tour. La Torontoise a connu un bon début de match en prenant rapidement les devants 4-1. Elle a d’ailleurs eu trois balles de manche alors qu’elle servait à 5-4, 40-0. Wozniak a toutefois résisté pour finalement prendre la mesure de sa compatriote par un compte de 7-5 et 6-2. La Blainvilloise accède ainsi au deuxième tour pour une cinquième année consécutive. Elle croisera maintenant le fer avec la gagnante du match opposant la Française Alizé Cornet et la Chinoise Jie Zheng, 31e tête de série.  

Dubois et Pospisil s’inclinent
Dubois prenait part au tableau principal pour la troisième fois de sa carrière, mais n’avait encore jamais franchi le tour initial. Elle affrontait aujourd’hui l’Israélienne Shahar Peer, 55e joueuse mondiale. La Canadienne a plié l’échine en deux manches identiques de 6-2. Pospisil a lui aussi vu son séjour à la porte d’Auteuil prendre fin alors qu’il s’est incliné face au Français Édouard Roger-Vasselin en quatre manches de 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 et 6-2.

Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) et Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON) feront quant à eux leur entrée en scène demain. Raonic, 19e tête de série, se mesurera à l’Espagnol Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo tandis que Dancevic sera opposé au Slovaque Martin Klizan.
À propos de Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada, dont les origines remontent à 1890, est une organisation sportive nationale sans but lucratif responsable du développement, de la promotion et de la mise en valeur du tennis au pays. Tennis Canada possède et administre deux des plus prestigieux tournois de l’ATP et du WTA Tour; les volets masculin et féminin de la Coupe Rogers présentée par Banque Nationale, dont la présentation alterne chaque année entre le Centre Rexall, à Toronto, et le Stade Uniprix, à Montréal. De plus, Tennis Canada possède et administre sept tournois professionnels sanctionnés par l’ITF et soutient financièrement neuf autres tournois professionnels au Canada. Tennis Canada administre des centres nationaux d’entraînement au Centre de l’excellence, à Toronto, et au Stade Uniprix, à Montréal, et au North Shore Winter Club, à Vancouver. Tennis Canada est membre de la Fédération internationale de tennis, du Comité olympique canadien, du Comité paralympique canadien et de l’Association internationale de tennis en fauteuil roulant. De plus, Tennis Canada administre, commandite et choisit des équipes pour la Coupe Davis, la Fed Cup, les Jeux olympiques et paralympiques et forme des équipes nationales pour les juniors, les vétérans et les joueurs de tennis en fauteuil roulant. Tennis Canada investit ses excédents budgétaires dans le développement du tennis. Pour obtenir plus amples renseignements sur Tennis Canada, visitez notre site Web sur http://www.tenniscanada.ca/..

RAONIC WINS OPENER AT ROLAND-GARROS
Dancevic forced to retire
Montreal, May 28, 2012 – First round matches continued on Monday in Paris as Canadians Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON) and Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) began 2012 campaigns at Roland-Garros. 
Raonic, seeded no. 19 in the tournament, was trying to improve on his first round loss last year at the French Open and had the chance to do so against Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. The 21-year-old made quick work of his opponent 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the second round at Roland-Garros for the first time in his career. Raonic hit 12 aces and 47 winners in the match. He will face Canadian born American Jesse Levine in round two. 
Meanwhile, Dancevic’s trip to Paris was a short one as he was forced to retire with a back injury just four games into his first round match against Martin Klizan of Slovakia.   
About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association responsible for leading the growth, promotion and showcasing of tennis in Canada. Tennis Canada owns and operates two of the premier events on the ATP and WTA Tours; Rogers Cup presented by National Bank men’s and women’s events that rotate annually between Rexall Centre in Toronto and Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. In addition, Tennis Canada owns and operates seven professional ITF sanctioned events and financially supports nine other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates junior national training centres/programs at the Centre of Excellence in Toronto, Uniprix Stadium in Montreal and the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our Web site at: http://tenniscanada.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d329ef9f1d1bca85c44b72a8f&id=5cf61d2f72&e=3a4a38a850.

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Media Contacts:
Montreal
Louis-Philippe Dorais                                           Valérie Tétreault
Director, Communications and Marketing               Coordinator, Communications
514-273-1515, ext. 232                                     514-273-1515, ext. 259
lpdorais@tenniscanada.com                                 vtetreault@tenniscanada.com
Toronto
Sarah Grossman                                                  Nicole Watts
Manager, Communications and Media Relations        Coordinator, Communications
416-650-7922                                                    416-655-9777 x4092
sgrossman@tenniscanada.com                              nwatts@tenniscanada.com

 
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
RAONIC RÉUSSIT SA RENTRÉE À ROLAND-GARROS
Dancevic forcé à l’abandon
Montréal, le 28 mai 2012 – Les rencontres de premier tour se poursuivaient aujourd’hui alors que les Canadiens Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON) et Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) faisaient leur entrée en scène à Roland-Garros.
Raonic, 19e tête de série, tentait de venger sa défaite survenue l’an dernier au tour initial. Il affrontait pour l’occasion l’Espagnol Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. Le Canadien n’a pas perdu trop d’énergie sur le terrain puisqu’il a facilement pris la mesure de son adversaire en trois manches de 6-4, 6-2 et 6-2. Au cours de ce match, Raonic a réussi 12 aces et un impressionnant total de 47 coups gagnants. Il mérite ainsi sa place au deuxième tour pour la première fois de sa carrière. Il porte également sa fiche en Grand Chelem à sept victoires et cinq défaites. Il croisera maintenant le fer avec l’Américain, anciennement Canadien, Jesse Levine.
Dancevic n’aura fait que passer à Paris puisque l’Ontarien a été forcé à l’abandon après avoir disputé seulement quatre jeux. En effet, il perdait 4-0 contre le Slovaque Martin Klizan lorsqu’il a préféré se retirer en raison d’une blessure au dos.

À propos de Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada, dont les origines remontent à 1890, est une organisation sportive nationale sans but lucratif responsable du développement, de la promotion et de la mise en valeur du tennis au pays. Tennis Canada possède et administre deux des plus prestigieux tournois de l’ATP et du WTA Tour; les volets masculin et féminin de la Coupe Rogers présentée par Banque Nationale, dont la présentation alterne chaque année entre le Centre Rexall, à Toronto, et le Stade Uniprix, à Montréal. De plus, Tennis Canada possède et administre sept tournois professionnels sanctionnés par l’ITF et soutient financièrement neuf autres tournois professionnels au Canada. Tennis Canada administre des centres nationaux d’entraînement au Centre de l’excellence, à Toronto, et au Stade Uniprix, à Montréal, et au North Shore Winter Club, à Vancouver. Tennis Canada est membre de la Fédération internationale de tennis, du Comité olympique canadien, du Comité paralympique canadien et de l’Association internationale de tennis en fauteuil roulant. De plus, Tennis Canada administre, commandite et choisit des équipes pour la Coupe Davis, la Fed Cup, les Jeux olympiques et paralympiques et forme des équipes nationales pour les juniors, les vétérans et les joueurs de tennis en fauteuil roulant. Tennis Canada investit ses excédents budgétaires dans le développement du tennis. Pour obtenir plus amples renseignements sur Tennis Canada, visitez notre site Web sur http://tenniscanada.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=d329ef9f1d1bca85c44b72a8f&id=d498e6343b&e=3a4a38a850..

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Renseignements :
Montréal
Louis-Philippe Dorais                                              Valérie Tétreault
Directeur, communications et marketing                  Coordonnatrice, communications
514-273-1515, poste 232                                      514-273-1515, poste 259
lpdorais@tenniscanada.com                                    vtetreault@tenniscanada.com
Toronto
Sarah Grossman                                                    Nicole Watts
Gestionnaire, communications et relations médias      Coordonnatrice, Communications
416-650-7922                                                      416-655-9777, poste 4092
sgrossman@tenniscanada.com                                nwatts@tenniscanada.com